Berks woman accused of stalking/harassing to be evaluated

NORRISTOWN – A Berks woman convicted of stalking a married Lower Pottsgrove man with whom she was “infatuated” will undergo a mental health evaluation to determine her competency to stand trial on new charges she allegedly continued to stalk the same man and also harassed the editor of The Mercury.

Sharlene Andreyko, 53, of the 200 block of Lenape Road, Bechtelsville, will be evaluated by Dr. Rocio Nell at Montgomery County Emergency Services, located on the grounds of the Norristown State Hospital, according to an order signed by Montgomery County Judge Steven T. O’Neill.

O’Neill said Nell “shall address the issue of whether or not the defendant is competent to participate in the legal proceedings” presently pending against her, if Andreyko “is criminally responsible” for her actions at the time of the offenses and “if said defendant is capable of criminal intent.”

Defense lawyer Adam Todd Katzman requested the evaluation on behalf of Andreyko, who remains in the county jail while awaiting trial on charges of stalking, harassment, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and making false statements in connection with alleged incidents that occurred in June.

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Montgomery County Emergency Services, while on the grounds of the state hospital, is not affiliated with the hospital. The agency serves as the county’s emergency mental health crisis center.

Andreyko will be transported by sheriff’s deputies from the county jail to the Norristown facility for the evaluation, which is tentatively scheduled for Nov. 19.

If Andreyko is deemed to be incompetent, then she would undergo mental health treatment until such time she is deemed competent to proceed to trial. If Andreyko is deemed competent, a trial date would be set and she would continue to be held in the county jail pending that trial.

Andreyko is being held on a detainer without bail because the new charges represent an alleged violation of her previous probation and parole.

Assistant District Attorney John Walko is prosecuting the case.

With the latest charges, authorities alleged Andreyko harassed the Lower Pottsgrove couple and their relatives through additional letters and attempted to purchase a gun from a shop at Zern’s the same day Mercury editor Nancy March received a threatening letter from Andreyko.

In the correspondence sent to The Mercury, Andreyko, who previously proclaimed she was called upon by the “Holy Spirit” when she harassed and stalked the Lower Pottsgrove couple, allegedly wrote she was angry with the newspaper for publicizing her previous arrest and conviction.

In May 2010, Andreyko was sentenced in Montgomery County Court to five months already served to 23 months in the county jail for stalking the Lower Pottsgrove couple between December 2008 and March 2009. At the time of Andreyko’s sentencing, Judge O’Neill, based on information he received from doctors who indicated Andreyko would benefit from additional inpatient treatment, involuntarily committed her to the Montgomery County Emergency Services facility.

It’s unclear when Andreyko was released from custody.

But on June 22, 2012, a relative of the married couple Andreyko was convicted of stalking in 2009 received a new letter from Andreyko. The letter allegedly penned by Andreyko indicated the male victim is her “idol,” and she requested that he write her before her birthday in July. Andreyko also directed her attention to the man’s wife, writing, “If I can’t have what I want by my birthday, maybe I’ll get it by Christmas,” according to the arrest affidavit.

The victims told police they were “living in fear again,” according to the arrest affidavit filed by Lower Pottsgrove Detective Joseph Campbell, who alleged Andreyko was “infatuated” with the married man.

“They are concerned more, now than ever, since this has already been dealt with in the court system and Andreyko still has no fear of the justice system,” Campbell alleged.

A few days later, the female victim received another letter signed by Andreyko where Andreyko wrote, “no weapon against me shall prosper,” according to court papers.

Additionally, also on June 27, Mercury editor Nancy March received a “disturbing phone call” at The Mercury office from Andreyko. According to court records, March told police Andreyko was “screaming at her on the phone, calling her a bitch and (saying) she was going to lose her job for putting (Andreyko’s) name in the newspaper.” Andreyko also made a reference to a prophet.

Two days after Andreyko called the newspaper, March received a card from Andreyko at The Mercury office which read, “You are about to become Celsius,” and “The Mercury is going to be shut down for libel,” according to the arrest affidavit. Andreyko also threatened “Get your article off the Internet about the Prophet because I’m about to profit from your stupidity! ... Remove my address immediately, this is a threat!”

The same day March received the card from Andreyko, Douglass (Mont.) police were called to Zern’s where Andreyko allegedly attempted to purchase a firearm, specifically a Taurus PT22, a small, .25-caliber handgun. Police were alerted when the gun shop owner did a background check on Andreyko and learned she was wanted out of Lower Pottsgrove for harassment and stalking incidents.

Police alleged Andreyko lied on the questionnaire she filled out to purchase a firearm when asked about her criminal history, as well as whether she was ever committed to a mental institution.

About the Author

Carl Hessler Jr. writes about crime and justice at the Montgomery County Courthouse for The Mercury and 21st Century Media Newspaper’s Greater Philadelphia area publications. A native of Reading, he studied at Penn State University and Kutztown University before graduating from Alvernia University with a degree in communications. He is a recipient of a National Headliner Award and has been honored for his writing by the Keystone Press Association, Philadelphia Press Association, Society of Professional Journalists and the Associated Press Managing Editors of Pennsylvania. Reach the author at chessler@pottsmerc.com
or follow Carl on Twitter: @MontcoCourtNews.